Chapter 56: Crisis Approaches

"Finally over."

Hayato stowed the bag of shoes Yui had hidden, exhaling.

The obvious gesture was a clear signal: no cooperation with accessories.

For several hours, Hayato had scanned the shelves with a flashlight, watched for zombies, and kept other explorers at bay. He made his point plainly: it was time to end.

"Ah."

"Later."

"Okay."

Yui stepped back without protest, as if Hayato had forced a compromise.

She then took light steps, now wearing new sneakers.

The shoes had fit during trial, so she had changed into them immediately.

It had been over two years since she last wore shoes. She seemed pleased. Natsuki and Anna looked satisfied as well.

"Are you not choosing any?"

Yui looked down at Hayato’s feet.

Hayato’s shoes, worn through from traveling across the other world, were clearly in need of replacement.

But Hayato shook his head.

"I'll come back tomorrow."

He kept gripping the spear, maintaining vigilance around him.

Explorers would come to the second floor, but no one approached Hayato.

Their purpose was resource acquisition, and such an opportunity rarely presented itself. The combination of this situation and Hayato’s stance with the spear prevented trouble before it began.

Yui, who had once been targeted by the New Order Coalition in Chukann City, nodded in agreement.

"What now?"

Natsuki asked. Hayato replied without pause.

"Return to the hotel. It’s about time."

"Yes."

Natsuki might have asked just to hear Hayato say it.

Anna studied their expressions, but with Hayato, Yui, and Natsuki in agreement, she did not voice opposition.

“Satisfied?”

“First date, thank you.”

Anna approached, light and quick, when Yui stepped in swiftly.

“Yes, yes, done.”

“Huh? It’s a thank-you.”

“A thank-you for what?”

“A hug and a kiss.”

Yui’s expression stiffened instantly.

“Oh, Yui went first. Sorry. You go ahead.”

Anna pressed the point further.

Hayato mentally praised Anna as a perfect assistant.

Yui’s affection bar had not yet maxed out, and she was flustered.

Anna looked at her, silently pleading: *If you’re not going to do it, then I can.*

—This girl is strong.

Hayato was moved by Anna’s initiative.

Natsuki managed the group of three—Hayato, Yui, and herself—acting as the coordinator. She was undoubtedly valuable, yet her presence did not overwhelm Yui.

She was like a concubine who upheld the primary wife while maintaining the group’s cohesion.

Anna, by contrast, was a sudden lover.

Hayato had no memory of choosing Anna as a lover, but adding her seemed to align the group with Hayato’s intended direction.

—Food, safety, various other concerns, yes.

At present, Hayato had not secured a permanent settlement, nor could he produce food.

Rice, for example, was sufficient for Yui and Natsuki’s lifetimes, but not enough if Anna was included. Water and supplies also consumed at a significantly different rate between three and four people.

Yui was an original member. Natsuki had demonstrated value through her agricultural high school knowledge.

If Anna was joining under current conditions, she would need to demonstrate a corresponding benefit.

That benefit was intended to be shown directly to Hayato, through Yui's choice—whether to perform a hug and kiss on Hayato herself, or to decline and allow Anna to do it.

—Valid.

Hayato leaned in, listening for Yui's conclusion.

His acute hearing caught unnecessary words from the direction of the food court.

"New Order Coalition!"

"Shit, there are dozens of them!"

At that moment, a wave of intense irritation swept through Hayato's mind.

Like a field of crops destroyed by wild monkeys just as harvest season arrived.

A sense of helplessness washed over him—this was impossible.

—Anna is looking at Yui.

Hayato instantly sheathed the spear in his right hand.

Then he addressed the three of them.

"Regrettable, but the New Order Coalition has arrived. Yui, grab onto me. Natsuki and Anna, follow me. Descend to the first floor. Evacuate."

"Eh? Eh?"

Anna, unaware of Hayato's hearing, was disoriented by the sudden command.

Recognizing the difficulty of explanation, Hayato immediately changed his plan.

"Change of plan. I will carry Anna. Yui and Natsuki, follow closely."

Hayato lifted Anna with his right hand and shouldered her.

"Wait, what's going on?"

"Never mind. Do as I say. You volunteered to be my wife. Do you have a complaint about being taken by your husband?"

"...Understood."

Anna complied quietly, responding to Hayato's urgent order.

Hayato secured Anna in his arms and descended the stairs toward the cinema side.

He chose the cinema side because the area had not yet been secured, and fewer people remained there.

The cinema’s theater room showed clear signs of lacking supplies.

No one attempted to open the theater room door.

Meanwhile, when zombies had emerged in the Shopping Mall, many people might have fled inside. The theater room was soundproof. Even if someone came from the Shopping Mall to retrieve supplies, the zombies inside would not notice.

The cinema’s theater room was a Schrödinger’s cat—unknown whether zombies were present.

As a result, it drew little attention. No flashlight beams from explorers reached inside.

In the darkness, Hayato’s flashlight beam cut through the floor like a blade.

The noise of other explorers was distant. For now, silence held.

Hayato advanced with minimal footfall. He stepped onto the stairs. The white beam spiraled downward, tracing the path to the lower level.

"Going down."

Hayato told Yui and Natsuki, then began descending first.

At the bottom of the stairs, the flashlight revealed something.

——Three.

The first floor of the cinema had not been fully explored, leaving zombies behind.

Hayato confirmed Anna was facing backward, then extended his right foot.

From the tip of his right foot, he withdrew the car stored in spatial containment and set it down.

"Anna, get down once."

"Eh, yes."

Hayato lowered Anna to the floor, then lunged at the zombies from the left.

The spear's tip struck the first in the face, shattering it instantly.

The spear arced upward, then descended onto the second's head.

"Guaaaaah."

The third charged without hesitation.

Hayato rotated the spear halfway, using the stone tip on the opposite end to pierce the third's abdomen.

With the strength of a grizzly bear, the spear swung through the air. The third one flew off violently, rolling across the cinema floor.

Hayato stopped chasing, took out the smart key from the spatial storage, and unlocked the car door.

Good, get in the vehicle.

"Wha—what?!"

Hurry up. Natsuki, push Anna down.

Hayato glanced back quickly. Yui climbed into the passenger seat. Natsuki opened the rear seat door and pushed Anna in.

"Gwaaah"

Shut up.

Hayato raised his right hand and threw the spear at the third zombie as it rose.

The spear flew with a roar, punching a large hole in the zombie’s chest, then drove it back down.

Hayato watched Natsuki get into the vehicle. He did not retrieve the spear. He climbed into the driver's seat.

He started the engine and pressed the accelerator, driving out from the cinema.